Writing about climate modeling

When I set out to write an article about climate modeling, I had no idea how complicated it would be. In the end, I simply didn’t have enough time to write the article I wanted to write. I just recently finished my senior thesis in environmental policy, which took me most of the academic year to research and write, and staring down the topic of climate modeling, I felt that in order to thoroughly explain it I would have to write the equivalent of a second thesis. Journalists will seldom have this kind of time to commit to one article.

Writing this article has been a rough lesson in the limitations of practical science communication by non-experts like me. I have to understand the limits of my time and understanding, because I would rather write a more simple article of higher quality than attempt a more complex one such as the one I just posted here that definitely isn’t my best work. Moving forward, I need to learn to more efficiently find information, and realize that I can’t approach research for articles like I would approach research for my thesis. Synthesizing complex scientific information in a short period of time is certainly a learned skill that I am still building.

About This Blog

The research and reflections presented here are part of an independent study at Colorado College in Spring 2017 in which I am seeking to better understand the challenges and applications of science communication. The technical language and conventions of science can make it a challenge to talk about in everyday conversation, yet in an increasingly complex world, it is important that all of us - politician, scientists, journalists, and everyone else - can talk to each other. In my quest to learn how to be a better communicator of science, I hope that some of what I learn might be interesting or helpful to you as well. Please share your thoughts, comment, and tell me how I'm doing!